NFL Hokies: Week 18 recap

CB Caleb Farley 
Panthers cornerback Caleb Farley has fought to be on the gridiron. Playing in just twelve games over two seasons with the Tennessee Titans, Farley’s unlucky string of injuries (torn ACL, herniated disk) sidelined him for great lengths of time. Now with the Panthers, Farley has experienced a career resurgence by seeing the field in a handful of contests this season. In Week 18, Farley would post a season-high four tackles over 57 snaps on defense, the former first-round pick contributing to the team’s 86 tackles against the Falcons. All four of his tackles were solo efforts in the matchup.  

K Joey Slye 
Against a Buffalo Bills team that earned the luxury of sitting its starters in Week 18, Patriots kicker Joey Slye sent three of three attempted field goals through the uprights, hitting from 50, 42 and 41 yards. The sixth-year journeyman would also drill two extra point attempts in the matchup, ending a perfect kicking day with 11 total offensive points. Slye’s first year with the Patriots was a rather successful one, ending the year going 26/33 on field goals and 25/26 on extra points. Slye also set franchise records with a massive 63-yard field goal in Week 4.  

Notable Wild Card Weekend Matchups 

Los Angeles Chargers at Houston Texans: Saturday, Jan. 11 at 4:30 p.m. ET on CBS 
In the first game of Wild Card Weekend, Justin Herbert and the Los Angeles Chargers will travel to NRG Stadium for a playoff matchup against the Houston Texans. Under head coach DeMeco Ryans, the Texans have now made the playoffs in consecutive seasons for the first time since 2018-19 and will look to make a run with sophomore quarterback C.J. Stroud. Former Hokie and defensive tackle Tim Settle will dress for the matchup, the seventh-year veteran aiming to impress in his sixth career playoff contest. 

Washington Commanders at Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Sunday, Jan. 12 at 8 p.m. ET on NBC 
Rookie phenomenon Jayden Daniels and the Washington Commanders will travel south for a matchup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during Wild Card Weekend. The Commanders, who last made the playoffs in 2020 and lost to the Tom Brady-led Tampa Bay Buccaneers, will look to make it past the Wild Card round for the first time since 2006. Coaches on both squads have extensive ties to Virginia Tech football, as Commanders defensive line coach Darryl Tapp, Buccaneers Senior Advisor to the General Manager Bruce Arians and safeties coach Nick Rapone all logged time with the Hokies.